My husband surprised me last week for my 50th birthday with a trip to Israel at the end of August. Literally, the day after my surprise everything went nuts over there! I was wondering from the viewpoint of some of you that may live there...would you still consider going? Here is our itinerary:
Haifa, Tiberia, dead sea and Masada, Beersheba, Jerusalem.(ok, I know Haifa may have to be dropped)
Is tourism still going strong or are the tourists trying to get out and go home?
I am inclined to go...afterall it is about time our children got to worry about us for a change!

l&w -

My sister is visiting there right now as we speak, (she left last Sunday just before the violence began), and we correspond every day, sometimes several times a day. She told me the north is closed off - cannot go up there at all. That includes Haifa, but also Tiberias, as it was bombed yesterday.

My sister-in-law (my husband's sister) lives in the far north tip of Israel, on a kibbutz. I spoke with her today, and she told me that they are presently confined to their kibbutz, and thankfully, no bombings have come to them so far. But all the surrounding kibbutzim have had strikes.

Of course, no one can say what the future will bring, and how much longer this will go on. But if it was me, if your tickets have not been purchased yet, I would reconsider visiting, even in August. If they have been purchased, perhaps you could inquire of the airlines if the trip could be delayed to a later date.

People are living near or in bomb shelters presently, and the sound of rockets flying over head or nearby is a constant. We can only hope that this all reaches a resolution as soon as possible, without further loss of life.

Terry

We're in a similar situation but not really talking about it for fear of greatly disappointing our daughter if we decide to cancel. We're scheduled for a November trip, so we're hoping things calm down before then; we'll decide in September whether to reschedule or go somewhere else. Honestly, I'm not sure what I would do if we were going next month, probably wouldn't go .

My temple has been planning a group trip in March of '07 but we'll need to sign people up early in the fall. I doubt we'll be able to get enough people; I expect the trip will be delayed. Very unfortunate! My rabbi was uncomfortable enough with the Hamas hijinks. Now the Hezbollah attacks will likely seal it for him.

Marian and Terry,
Thanks for the current information. Wow, it sounds really bad. Terry, I will say a prayer for the safety of your family.
We are going with a small group that is being organized by a local retired Pastor who spends a good deal of time in Israel. It has been a dream of mine to go for the last 30yrs.I do believe the tickets have already been bought(at least we have already paid our money). I wonder if the airlines will gives us a refund under the circumstances?? I checked on the State Department webpage today and there was not a current warning posted about travel to Israel.I imagine there will be after this weekend though! I would love to hear any updates if you all get a chance.Thanks for your input!

I'll keep you posted - no problem

Thanks!!

I personally wouldn't go either to Israel or to Lebanon right now unless it was an urgent family visit. I know people in both countries (and in the Palestinian territories) and they are all worried to death. Interestingly, I have a friend with an aged mum on a kibbutz in Israel, and another with an aged mum in Lebanon (my two friends are friends of each other, by the way).

Please, NO political comments about who is to blame for this current round of violence.

You couldn't pay me to go to any of the countries involved in this conflict right now. If you are going to vacation I'd postpone it. Things will get worse before they get better and there is no way of knowing how long this will continue. I'd say stay home and wait for things to calm down.

They are saying that the expectation is for the violence to spread to other parts of Israel. I agree that Israel will be placed on the travel warning list within a few days. Lebanon is already on it, so it is just a matter of time...

I've hesitated to offer my thoughts here, largely because I am too personally caught up in the events affecting my friends and colleagues in Haifa.

I think in making the decision, you need to be able to make some sort of balanced asessment of the risks and benefits. Problem is, the situation can change in the blink of an eye, for better or worse.

When I went to Israel during the height of the second Intifadah, tourists were staying away because of frequent bombings. I was going for professional reasons, but had personal reasons for feeling strongly about going in spite of the safety concerns. For me, at that time, I decided the benefits outweighed the possibility of problems. Most of the time I felt safe, cocooned by friends and reassured by the stringent security measures everywhere. Still, walking in known trouble spots in Jerusalem and elsewhere was nerve-wracking. And I know that the people at home were concerned for me.

As I've said before, things can change very quickly. However, as this is a long-awaited trip, would you be comfortable in an unsure situation? I know I'd be much more able to relax and enjoy the experience (as I did on my next trip a year later) when events are more settled.

I'm scheduled to return in February. If February was next month, I honestly don't think I'd be making the trip.

Amy,
Thanks for your thoughts.It is clear you love the region, thus your comment about you "not going if it were next month" gives me a lot to consider. Like you said "things can change quickly", so I think we are going to wait a few more days before deciding. It is so hard, because I am just so darn disappointed!
One good point about waiting a couple of months for it to calm down is the weather should be better! :-)

l&w -

I thought I'd share a portion of an email I received from my sister today:

YESTERDAY I WAS IN JERUSALEM AND THE TRAFFIC WAS HORRENDOUS. THE CAB DRIVER TOLD ME IN ALL HIS YEARS HE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS - BARRICADES WERE UP - POLICE ALL AROUND. AS IT TURNED OUT, A SUICIDE BOMBER WAS CAPTURED MINUTES FROM MY LOCATION. VERY HARD TO BELIEVE.

I AM NOW IN TEL AVIV. THEY JUST ANNONCED THAT THE IDF DESTROYED MISSILES INTENDED FOR TEL AVIV. NOT SURE HOW THEY CAN DETERMINE THE DESTINATION - BUT THEY KEPT STRESSING THIS ON THE NEWS.

DAY TO DAY LIFE FEELS NORMAL, OTHERWISE - EXCEPT WHEN YOU TURN ON CNN AND READ THE PAPERS OR LISTEN TO THE RADIO.

I FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY - BUT THIS IS ISRAEL - SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

THERE ARE PLACARDS INT HE WINDOWS SAYING: 'DISCOUNT FOR BRAVE TOURISTS' A REAL SIGN OF THE TIMES.

I think it sounds like people are trying to continue conducting their lives to the best of their ability, and according to what is safe and allowed by the government. But the north is still closed off. If you have the luxury of a little more time before you have to decide, perhaps the violence will begin to subside.

Terry

Terry,
Thanks so much for the update. So far I have not gotten a cancellation notice from the trip organizer. I am hopeful that things will calm down enough to go, but saddened how much destruction we are likely to see.I am glad your sister has moved on to Tel Aviv.From the news it looked like things were going on as "normal" there. Any other updates will be greatly appreciated!

My considerations are not political at all.

Currently traveling to Israel or to Lebanon means traveling to a war. I am talking as of today, of the past few days and probably of the future months. Daily bombs and missiles cross the skies between the two countries falling on harmless civilians. Yesterday at least 40 civilians died in Lebanon as their homes were flattened by bombs. At the same time, in Isarael, the city of Haifa is being fled by its population, that head to Tel Aviv or to relatives' houses in the south of Israel in an attempt to evade the missiles that fall on their heads. So far the civilians who died on both sides are over 250, and I do not know how many members of the armies who are fighting died (yesterday the land war started too).
Foreign citizens living in either country are being evacuated by airplane and ship towards their homes or towards Cyprus: a French ferry took 1,200 europeans to Cyprus on Tuesday, on Monday an Italian ship took 400 people, mostly Italians and British, here to Italy, and there are 22,000 more British waiting to be taken to Cyprus by the British Royal Navy and a US commercial ship is traveling to Lebanon to evacuate 25,000 more people (BBC).

Regardless of your political or religious beliefs and inclinations, this is the wrong moment to travel to either of these countries. Traveling now to Israel or Lebanon is just plainly dangerous for your own lives. Support one side or the other, if you are so inclined, by sedong goods or money to the local Red Cross-Red Crescent organizations, to help relieve the civilians' sufferings.

I'm sorry, but those of you who believe what you see on CNN, etc., would never go anywhere.

Go and have a great time. I promise that the "war" will be invisible unless you seek it out.

There is plenty to see without having to visit the nothern villages of Israel or Southern Lebanon - or even Haifa if you don't want to or if it is not safe, and you will be every bit as safe as you are in any large US city should you decide to travel within the US instead.

Let the tour guides do their job.

I was there during every major "war" in the area from 1963 to 1974 and ought to know.

We just got word from the tour organizer that we will be out most of the money if we cancel. ($6500.00) They only give refunds if the State Department says no one can travel there and that is unlikely. They often post warnings but don't shut down all travel. The tour operator in Israel said tourism has been going on as normal and not to worry. I am sure that is not so in all areas of Israel. My guess is we will greatly modify where we are going.

l&w -

Wow - that's a big chunk of change to lose if you don't go. That being said, here is an excerpt of my sister's email today:

"I am fine - things are terrible in the North - but life feels normal in Tel Aviv. A lot of people have relocated to this area temporarily."

My SIL, who lives in the Upper Galilee, on the other hand, can't say the same - travel, tourism, and even work has come to a complete halt in the entire region, and many are living full-time in their appointed bomb shelters, or are never far from them.

I think that the odds are, if you go you'll probably be ok, as long as you avoid the north; I'm sure your tour operator will want to do whatever is safe and wise for all involved. And, God-willing, may the violence be over long before you go.

I'll continue to keep you posted if I hear anything new.

Terry

Did you get trip insurance?? Are these tour people going to guarentee your safety? What kind of contract did you sign for the tour? Is the itinerary changing because of the war? What happens if you get there but can't get back? Can they postpone or reschedule the trip? I would consult an attorney to find out what my options are, $6,500.00 is alot of money. I can't believe they would take tourists into a war zone.

Ginger

Terry!
Thanks so much ofr the update! Of course, most of the places we wanted to visit are in the north.(Tiberia, Haifa, Nazareth). Masada may be "out" too. It sounds like the safest place is Tel Aviv and that was not even on our schedule. I hope for everyone it is all over soon.

Ginger (suncoast),
No, we have not bought travel insurance. They sent us some information on buying some but after reading it(along with a friend who is an attorney)we felt that "feeling unsafe" would not be covered under the "trip interruption clause". We are still trying to figure that one out. Maybe if it is truly declared "war" then they would have to give us our money back.I am personally hoping it does not escalate to that! My sister works for Delta and she is checking to see if we can separate our tickets out from the rest of the trip costs and at least recover all but a 100.00 per ticket of that cost. I think that may only be about 2500.00 of the 6500.00 cost though.

My cousins near Tel Aviv are living their lives as normally as they can; day to day things go on. If you decide to go, obviously things will be limited. Maybe you still can go to Masada (which would be wonderful); and of course a trip to the Dead Sea is amazing. All these are in the south (but not south enough to be in danger from Katushas). And I would think you could still visit the sights of Jerusalem.

Does someone here who lives in Israel know whether tours are still going to Masada?

Hi
I live just outside Tel Aviv and life is going on pretty much as normal in this area.
You will be able to visit anything south of Haifa and that includes Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Massada and the Dead Sea for sure.
Obviously this is not the ideal time to visit Israel, but on the other hand you will also experience that special feeling that pulls us all together in time of crisis.
Hopefully by the time you come things will be more settled and you wil be able to see areas in the north as well.
Shalom
Jabo

quote:

I live just outside Tel Aviv and life is going on pretty much as normal in this area. . .
Jabo

Thanks for backing up my feelings about the situation - even though I'm 30+ years removed.

Hi;
We are in very similar situations- for my wife and my 50th Birthdays and our 25th anniversary we decided to take our dream vacation to Israel with our three teenage children. We are to arrive in Tel Aviv on August 13 for 12 days. We have spent a lot of time thinking about this, and even though our air carrier will now give us a full refund if we wanted, we have decided to go; we are rearranging our itinerary to not go north of Tel Aviv, and are adding some things in the Negev to balance the trip. It will not be the trip we had hoped, but on the other hand, it will be more meaningful in a lot of ways and certainly the Israelis need us and our tourist dollars more than ever now. We believe we will be safe; they are still lying on the beaches at Tel Aviv and eating in the Cafe's on Ben Yehudah. We believe if we stay out of the North we will be safe and have a vacation with a lifetime of memories. We wish you luck in making your decision.

*edited to keep the discussion focussed on travel*

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